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November 2003
Posts: 231
| Anyone have an idea as to how much it would cost to have a early 80's Sunburst Legend re-topped? No cutaway, straight acoustic model with the Kaman bar. These had the AAA grade tops back then. The best sounding Ovation i've ever heard, and that's why i'm hesitant about having the top replaced. After all, the top is probably the only thing on an Ovation that makes one sound different than another, assuming the bracing is the same. This one has the newer A bracing. It still sounds great, but I can see problems in the near future. The top is sunken in pretty severly in front of the bridge now. What to do? |
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November 2004
Posts: 1374
| as far as I know.. they do the job as a top/bowl replacement 1 unit... my buddy Al had an Old 1617 done a couple of months ago.
turned out beautiful.. and sounds awesome...
he had the neck replaned a refret as well..
Old Vintage Neck on new bowl and bracing.
the factory does great work... if you have them do the job it will be like brand new.
the 85 collectors 12 came back just as nice.
the only way to know the cost for repairs and restoration is to send it up to John for evaluation.
figure between 400 to 600 for a top/bowl replacement..
but ymmv.
Glenn |
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November 2003
Posts: 231
| Thanks Glenn. Might as well just buy another guitar. Only thing original would be the neck, anyway. It may or may not sound good, since your losing the part that made it sound so good in the first place. Think I'll just play it as long as I can, and then hang it on the wall.
Mike |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Awright Mike!
I read this post, and if the top is the most important piece of the sonic puzzle, it wouldn't be the same sounding guitar, that you know and Love.
Then I read that they replace the bowl & top as a unit... Then they redo the frets..
Yeah, That's a whole new guitar!
So, I'd save some trouble, and maybe some money...
Just get a whole new guitar and keep the old one!
[or send it to me :rolleyes: ] |
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November 2003
Posts: 231
| Arthur, I bought this one brand new back in 1981, I think, and it sold me on Ovation. Sounded fantastic right out of the box. I've been searching for another as good for many years. Some have come close, including the Anniversary that I just purchased, but the old Legend is really woody sounding with huge bass response. It's made believers out of more than one Martin picking Bluegrasser. Sounds more like a vintage Martin than a lot of Martin's do, and plays much better. I've went through a pretty good bunch of Martin's since I bought the Legend, actually, and still own one. I've also owned a Santa Cruz Tony Rice, but the Ovation is still my favorite. Wish they all sounded this good. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | It has BASS? Is it an SSB, or no? No, it's a deep-bowl.
My 4861 is a solid-top SSB, and it has alot more Bass than my Plywood GC057. But I would have to use an amp, were I playing for other folks. I just play for myself at this point. Can't sing anyway.
But if they are gonna rebuild the whole damn guitar, I would still get a new one and keep the old. If we are talking $800, as someone posted, I might just go shopping for another the same year/model. |
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March 2007
Posts: 665
Location: Tychy, Poland | Roundback: i have 1617 with broken top, currently in repair. My luthier said that the top is salvageable. And i don't think your top could look worse than mine.
photos of mine:
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November 2003
Posts: 231
| Now that gives me new hope. Mine is sound around the bowl, just sunken in pretty badly in front of the bridge. Other than a pretty good sized crack in the treble side of the top that happened when it was new, everything is fine. |
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Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | mike,put a taller saddle in it and play the hell out of it take a look at the top level of my old folklore(pic by woody)  jason |
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February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | I had a new top put on a later 80's #1867 Legend which had separated cracks, finished in black. It was close on to $400 when all of the shipping was included. It needed a neck reset, so it made sense to get it done; it made the new top seem cheaper. The frets were also dressed. All told, it was a good investment. The downside was that it sounded like a NEW top, and needed a lot of playing to get it broken in. |
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April 2005
Posts: 200
Location: Melbourne Fl. | Mike mine was $650.00...replace top/bowl assy.,bridge,rosette,refret,adj/set action,restring and test.Yes it seems pricey but the sound is incredable.The newer finish formula is less prone to cracking,so I'm told. Al Fat Dog Davis |
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November 2003
Posts: 231
| Thanks guys. Jason, that's the way mine looks, also. I've got the saddle raised up where it doesn't buzz. The action is still good, but the saddle has went down some with the top, and it requires a tall saddle to compensate for the sinking. I hope it doesn't go any further, because I wouldn't want to go any higher with the saddle. It would really be putting some pull on the bridge. But I'm wondering if the bridge was back where it belongs if the neck set would be way off. I'm not going to worry about it too much. As long as it plays, I'll keep enjoying it.
Mike |
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February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | This kind of work on an older Ovation is strictly a "labor of love." I think the bowl is worth $50 or so, and so not worth their time and effort to salvage it.
I envy those of you with the skill and nerve to do work like that.
John <>{ |
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August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | my bridge has started to lift a bit in the past year, it needs a neck reset as well. but im gonna play it till the bridge pops of then ill fix it. my top has a bad belly right in front of the bridge. ive got good action from the 1st fret all the way to the 16th fret but i rarly play that high on the register |
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Legend Replacement Top
